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The tabling of the Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday saw several MPs voicing their protests on different provisions of the proposed anti-corruption legislation while adding that Parliament was supreme and should not ...
Click to play videoNew Delhi: It was a day of high drama in Parliament on Thursday as the government tabled the Lokpal Bill after numerous adjournments and several MPs voiced their protests on different provisions of the proposed anti-corruption legislation.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to minority quota and provision concerning state Lokayuktas, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh questioned bringing the Prime Minister and the MPs under its ambit.
The BJP claimed that allowing reservation on the basis of religion was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad mocked at Anna Hazare and his associates.
Lalu also blamed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for trying to rush through the Bill. He was supported by several other parliamentarians including Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Janata Dal (United) MP Sharad Yadav and Shiv Sena's Anant Geete.
Narayanasamy introduced the Bill after withdrawing the previous draft. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he is hopeful that the Lokpal Bill will be passed.
As soon as the Lokpal Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushma Swaraj objected to the provision of providing reservation for the minority community in the anti-corruption legislation.
Swaraj added that if the Bill was challenged in court it would be struck down on the first day as doesn't merit the Reservation Policy. "Reservation based on the basis of religion is not allowed constitutionally," stated Swaraj.
She also demanded that the present Bill should be withdrawn. "It is important we make a law that is not patently unconstitutional and later rejected in the court of law," she said.
However, Finance Minister and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee countered Swaraj's allegation pointing out that Parliament has the right to pass a bill and make laws.
"This is not just a piece of law. There is an agitation on in the country for the Bill and a committee has been working to bring this Bill. If a bill is struck by courts it doesn't mean that Parliament doesn't pass the bill. It is for the courts to judge the constitutionality of a Bill. Our job is to make and pass the bill. Let the court do their job, we will do our job," said Mukherjee.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "This bill puts the PM under the Lokpal which is against the Constitution provision. What is the guarantee that all the member of Lokpal will be honest and will it not emerge as bigger a threat to the Constitution? So I ask the government not to present this Bill."
RJD chief Lalu Yadav also questioned the present version of the Bill and said, "How can five people (Team Anna) challenge the Parliament ?"
This is the worst version of the Wicked Political Leaders who see their own pockets instead of the interest of this Great Nation......So Please leave your personal interests and share into the progress of India by passing Ombudsman Bill as suggested by Sh. Anna Hazare........
" IT IS UNDUE HASTE" for all the corrupt MPs who are having sleepless nights eversince Anna started his campaign six months ago ! THE FEAR AND FRUSTRATION IS VERY EVIDENT IN THEIR DIRTY FACES...THE REALITY LOOMING LARGE ..THE THOUGHT OF HANDCUFFS AND THE JAIL GRILL DOORS!